metamars's blog

Government of the Shadows: Parapolitics and Criminal Sovereignty (Hardcover)

Book Description
Government of the Shadows analyses the concept of clandestine government. It explores how covert political activity and transnational organised crime are linked -- and how they ultimately work to the advantage of state and corporate power. The book shows that legitimate government is now routinely accompanied by extra-governmental covert operations. Using a variety of case studies, from the mafia in Italy to programmes for food and reconstruction in Iraq, the contributors illustrate that para-political structures are not 'deviant', but central to the operation of global governments. The creation of this truly parallel world-economy, the source of huge political and economic potential, entices states to undertake new forms of regulation, either through their own intelligence agencies, or through the more shadowy world of criminal cartels.

Picking up on the controversial proposal he made during a Feb. 9 speech at Georgetown University, Sen.Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today reiterated his call for a “truth commission” on the Senate floor and said the Senate Judiciary Committee would hold a hearing next Wednesday to begin to consider the idea.
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.“I’ve seen what’s happened before with prosecutions,” added Leahy, clearly anticipating some objections from the left. “We don’t find the whole truth, but prosecute those on the way bottom of the chain of command.”

An article re a 911 hijacker's relatives involved in espionage has appeared in muslimedia.com, which I've never heard of. The article is without attribution, so at present it would be well to take it with a grain of salt.

Last month the Lebanese army smashed an Israeli spy ring and discovered something that may have far reaching implications for another terrorist operation: the 9/11 attacks on the US. Two brothers, Ali and Youssef al-Jarrah, operating in Jlela region of the Beqaa Valley near the Syrian border, were found in possession of spying equipment while operating under the cover of the National Association for Medical Services and Vocational Training and claiming to run a humanitarian mission. Ali and Youssef al-Jarrah happen to be uncles of Ziad al-Jarrah, one of the hijackers of the 9/11 planes.